The abcs Of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested

Transcription

1 The abcs Of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested BY JAMES FARRAGHER CAMPBELL, ESQ James Farragher Campbell, Esq., San Francisco, California

2 THOSE IN TROUBLE BEHIND-THE-WHEEL, EXPECT TO SEE SAN FRANCISCO ATTORNEY JAMES FARRAGHER CAMPBELL BESIDE THEM IN COURT San Francisco Attorney James Farragher Campbell is publicly regarded as one of the nation s most successful DUI defense lawyers. He heads Campbell, DeMetrick & Jacobo. For over 32 years this San Francisco firm has defended some of the most difficult DUI and vehicular homicide cases in the country. Mr. Campbell was a founding member of the Board of Regents for the National College for DUI Defense and served as its Dean in He has received the College s Life Time Achievement Award for establishing the Board Certification program for DUI defense, now recognized by the American Bar Association. He was President of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers in Well-known for his commanding courtroom presence, he has delivered extensive lectures throughout the country; authored numerous published articles, including the three-volume work for Matthew Bender, Defense of Vehicular Homicide Cases. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 2

3 Table of Contents Foreword 4 Introduction 5 Chapter 1. Your Arrest and The Charges 7 Chapter 2. Making The Right Decision 16 Chapter 3. The DMV And What They Can Do To Your License 21 Chapter 4. My Case In Court 23 Chapter 5. How Can I Help Improve My Defense? 38 The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 3

4 Foreword I see my career in DUI defense before my eyes on a daily basis. As I sit behind my desk, I easily recall the many memories of cases and people I have come across in the practice of law. I have mementos of everything significant either hanging on the walls or set about throughout the office. And, as I look around my office, I am visually reminded that I have seen the best of times and the worst of times in criminal defense. I have represented truly falsely-accused individuals; and, I have represented people who have clearly violated the law. Some of those were found guilty, some were spared a much worse sentence than they might have otherwise received, and some walked away from a conviction. When people find themselves in trouble behind the wheel, our office is usually the firm they hope to retain. One reason I have written this small book is to properly inform you of what you may expect if you ve been arrested for a DUI and what you can do before retaining a lawyer. You may be asking yourself, Why would you provide so much valuable information for almost nothing? The answer is actually quite simple: Trust. Since 1975 I have attempted to develop and maintain an excellent reputation as a lawyer and, as the head of a law firm that does everything legally possible to win your case, we want to be a law firm that can be trusted both ethically and professionally. I believe this book is a good start to building that trust. Some law firms or lawyers do not want you to know too much about what they actually do or can do in your defense. By providing this uncensored information now, I believe you will be better-educated about your case and about the lawyers who handle DUI cases. I know that if I give you sound information on what to look for in an attorney as well as how to evaluate your case, you will be in a better position to select the best lawyer for yourself. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 4

5 INTRODUCTION If you have been arrested for the first time for DUI (Driving Under the Influence), then this book is intended for you. In truth, nothing can really prepare you for what you are about to experience because no matter how many times I ve gone to criminal court it is never the same twice. There are, however, some constants which can guide you. Armed with this knowledge, you may be better-prepared to cope with potential difficulties and you will also be in a better position to assist the lawyer you retain in defending your case. Please remember that this is not intended as a legal text on the law of DUI, criminal procedure, or a mini-primer on defending a DUI case. It will not explain all the procedures that may occur in your case. It is intended as a guide for you to understand the basic operations and procedures that you are likely to encounter in the court system. Also, keep in mind that most good lawyers are good because they will be as flexible and creative as possible within the bounds of the law. Therefore, no hard and fast principles that can be explained in detail will be found applicable in all DUI cases. As you probably already know, there is a lot of information available to you on the Internet. In fact, that is probably how you came to order this book. Anyone arrested for DUI can obtain a wealth of information to assist them in understanding their case and in selecting defense counsel. Indeed, the average person today can The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 5

6 make a much more informed decision on their case and on the lawyer they want to retain due to the information available on the Internet. One major caveat should be noted: Information is not knowledge! While a great deal of information is available on the Internet, keep in mind that the information highway is, like any other highway, an expedient way of getting to a destination but never the destination itself. Similarly, while this book endeavors to alert you to the legal basics of DUI defense, it is not a substitute for the legal advice of competent counsel. It is my hope that this book will help you understand the nature of a DUI charge and the options available to you as you exercise your Constitutional rights to a competent attorney and a fair trial. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 6

7 CHAPTER 1 YOUR ARREST And THE CHARGES It can happen at any time and at any place. You are driving along and, all of a sudden, behind you are blazing red lights from a police car. You stop and the nightmare begins. All of a sudden you are no longer in your world, the cops are now in charge, and it s scary. If you have been arrested for the first time, I am sure you will admit it was a devastating experience. You were probably treated as a common criminal. While you certainly don t think of yourself as such, this is the viewpoint of most police officers. It is also likely to be the viewpoint of most prospective jurors. Remember, the police see criminal conduct on a daily basis and, after a while, they become somewhat blasé about the personal experience you have undergone. The police officer probably came up to your car, asked you some questions and told you why he or she stopped you. Your lawyer will definitely need to know any statements you made to the police as they will, in all likelihood, be used against you in court to prove the necessary elements of the charges. All of this information is valuable. You should do your best to recall in exact detail everything that took place and try to recall all police contact leading to, during and following your arrest. After the initial contact with the police officer, you were asked to exit your car and perform what are called Field Sobriety Tests. It is important at this point to understand that these supposed tests are actually not tests nor do they have anything to do with sobriety. They are nothing more than exercises that may help the officer determine if, in his opinion, you are under the influence to the extent you cannot safely operate an automobile. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 7

8 Some states use the Standardized Field Tests adopted under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These tests have been developed to provide the officer with certain scores or cues that they can observe and record to guide them in their determination of whether or not to arrest you. However, these NHTSA tests are not used in California. When the police officer decides to make an arrest for DUI, he or she is actually saying: In my opinion, I think this person was driving under the influence. What will be on trial is the officer s opinion. DUI is the only criminal offense since the Salem witch trials which amounts to a crime of opinion. All of the evidence which will be used against you in court will be circumstantial evidence; and it will be geared to support the officer s opinion that you were under the influence. From a legal standpoint, your lawyer will analyze your detention (the stop) and the arrest to determine whether there was legal probable cause to support either. This is one of the very first legal issues that will be explored by DUI defense counsel. Your contact with the police is of great importance to your lawyer in structuring your defense. The legality of the arrest will also come into play before the DMV as an issue that must be proved in order to sustain a license suspension. Certain legal rules govern the arrest process and your lawyer will analyze the controlling law to determine if a valid legal arrest has taken place and what remedies exist if you were not legally arrested. Again, this affects both the criminal court case as well as the DMV case. The details of the arrest are important for many different legal reasons; and, your lawyer will be looking to legal defenses which may flow from the arrest process itself, either substantively or procedurally, that will block the prosecution. In a DUI case, an arrest can be made in one of two ways: 1) an on-view arrest; or 2) after an accident where the police did not actually see the driving. The on-view arrest is how most DUI arrests are made. This occurs when a police officer sees you commit a crime in his or her presence and immediately apprehends you for that offense. The second manner of arrest is an exception to an on-view arrest in California DUI cases. If the police come upon an accident scene, or if other statutory exceptions are met, then they can make an arrest for a DUI even though they did not actually see you driving. Sometimes this same situation of no The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 8

9 observable driving may occur if you are stopped along the roadside and the police happen to come upon your car. In this situation, there exists a better chance that Vehicle Code Section (the exception to no observable driving) will not apply to aid the police. In some situations, you may have come upon a sobriety check point, or roadblock. Here, very strict constitutional rules apply as to the legal validity of the check point. Your lawyer will carefully analyze the conditions and implementation to determine whether or not a constitutional challenge to the roadblock exists. WHAT IS THE CHARGE? A Complaint will later be filed by the district attorney s office and the Complaint will state in legal language the exact charges you face in court. The Complaint is the name given to the paper setting out the alleged violations of law. The Complaint is the legal document that brings you to court and starts the legal process against you. Usually in a DUI case, you will be charged with two separate criminal offenses: Section (a) of the California Vehicle Code, driving under the influence; and, Section (b) of the California Vehicle Code, driving with a blood alcohol level of.08% or higher. Let s look at both of these charges because they will most likely be the criminal charges you will have to face and defend against in court. Section (a) is driving under the influence. The offense is basically defined under California law as driving a vehicle while you are under the influence of any alcoholic beverage and/or a drug. The essence of the offense is that you were unable to safely operate your vehicle because you were impaired due to alcohol and/or drugs. Please keep in mind that a charge of driving under the influence is not the same thing as drunk driving. You do not have to be drunk in order to be convicted of driving under the influence. Section (b) is defined as driving at or above the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08%. This offense is different than the (a) count above in that it does not The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 9

10 matter how well or poorly you were driving the vehicle, just that you were at or above the limit. If you are found guilty of both charges, you can only be punished for one of the crimes because your actions only constituted one continuous act. But, to get out from under the DUI consequences, you have to beat both of these charges. If you were at a high blood alcohol level (0.15% or higher) the DA could also file an enhancement to the above charges which could result in a harsher sentence, if convicted. Other enhancements are also likely if you have prior convictions; if you were driving in excess of 100 mph; if you had young children in the car under 14 years old; or if, you refused to take a chemical test to determine your blood alcohol level. A typical criminal complaint looks something like the following: The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 10

11 What are the elements that the prosecutor must prove as defined under law? Count 1 a violation of Section (a) of the California Vehicle Code. Section (a) driving under the influence has two components: 1.) Driving; and, 2.) Being under the influence. 1.) DRIVING The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 11

12 On most occasions, you are pulled over by the police after he has followed you and observed how you were driving. However, in other situations, the element of driving becomes a much bigger issue from a legal standpoint. You may have been in an accident. You may have been stopped at the side of the road or even in a parking lot. You also may have been stopped at a roadblock. Maybe you were not even the driver of the automobile. All of these facts will need to be legally researched by a DUI lawyer because you may have some good legal defenses to assert in your case. 2.) UNDER THE INFLUENCE The biggest problem you will have in the case are the results of the chemical tests. If you have a blood alcohol concentration, usually referred to as BAC, of 0.08% or more, then the prosecutor is going to try to use that test result as circumstantial evidence that you were at or above the legal limit when you drove the vehicle. In other words, they will try to be using this evidence to show you were impaired. The law in California allows the prosecutor to rely upon a rebuttable presumption that if you were at or above the legal limit of 0.08%, at the time of your chemical test and, if that test was taken within 3 hours of your arrest, you were driving under the influence. For purposes of arguing your guilt to jurors on this count, the prosecution will also seek to introduce into evidence the quality of your driving e.g., weaving, speeding, going the wrong way on a one-way-street, etc. You can still present evidence to show that you were not under the influence, despite the test evidence, to rebut the presumption. And, you can still present evidence to show that the test evidence may not be accurate or reliable. There is also the possibility that your lawyer may be able to block the test evidence from being admitted into evidence altogether, thus weakening the prosecution s case completely. Count 2 a violation of Section (b) of the California Vehicle Code. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 12

13 Section (b)driving with a blood alcohol level of.08% or higher, has two elements of proof as well: 1) Driving; and 2) being at 0.08% or higher at the time of driving. 1.) DRIVING The driving element is the same as above in 23152(a) driving under the influence. 2.) 0.08% OR HIGHER AT THE TIME OF DRIVING Now, this element is a little different than the other presumption used in the 23152(a) standard. Here, the prosecution must prove that at the actual time of driving you were at or above the legal limit. The prosecution may still use the rebuttable presumption of a chemical test within 3 hours of driving. However, if that test was not taken within the 3 hours, then this chemical test evidence is excluded and cannot be used against you for this statutory offense. Also, though the test result may indicate you were above the legal limit, expert testimony may show that your BAC (blood alcohol level) was rising; therefore, at the actual time of driving you were below the legal limit. The chart below depicts a normal blood alcohol rise and fall (burn off). In essence, if you were tested before you peaked, i.e., while your BAC was continuing to go up, then you certainly would be at a lower BAC at the actual time of driving. If, on the other hand, you were tested long after you peaked, then you would be eliminating alcohol, indicating your BAC was actually higher at the time of driving. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 13

14 BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL In California, if you are arrested for a DUI, you are required to submit to a chemical test to determine your blood alcohol level. This is known as the implied consent law. In other words, when you were issued your driver s license from the DMV, you agreed to submit to a chemical test if arrested for a DUI. The chemical test consists of either a blood or a breath test. The arresting officer must give you the choice of blood or breath; you decide which of the two tests you want to take. If you were involved in an accident, the officer could limit your choice to only a blood test. This is usually done when the accident involves an injury. If the arresting officer thinks you may be under the influence of a drug, then your choices may be limited to blood or urine. Urine tests are no longer used in California for alcohol testing. The procedure leading up to the implied consent test is, again, an area of legal concern for your lawyer to examine. The procedural issues at play here can sometimes weaken the D.A. s case even if the chemical tests results come into evidence. Other times, the chemical tests results may be blocked from evidence. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 14

15 The DUI defense lawyer is basically trying to do one or both of the following: challenge the factual validity of the test results; and/or, attempt to prevent those test results from coming into evidence on legal grounds. The law favors the prosecution with reference to the chemical test results because of the legal presumption that allows the prosecution to ask the jury to presume that you were under the influence at the time of driving if you have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher as shown by a chemical tests taken within 3 hours of your driving. Obviously, your lawyer will be examining all aspects of the chemical test results. First, are they factually accurate? Can there be an interpretation of those results in your favor, for example a rising blood alcohol defense (you may be over the legal limit at the time of the test but not at the time of your driving). Secondly, the lawyer will look at all of your procedural defenses which relate to the admissibility of the test results. Was the test taken within the 3 hour time limit? Did the police follow to the letter all of the evidentiary steps for admissibility under Title 17? (Title 17 is the California Administrative Code that sets out the proper procedure to be followed in collecting chemical samples for admission into evidence in a court proceeding.) Was the operator qualified and certified to use the breath device? Was the breath device properly calibrated? Were there any maintenance problems prior to or just after your test? Did the blood sample have the proper preservative level? Was a non-alcohol swab used? And the list goes on and on. Remember, the presumption goes both to the (a) count [driving under the influence] as well as to the (b) count [driving at or above 0.08%]. However, keep in mind that if any of the foundational requirements for the chemical test are challengeable and keep that result from being introduced as evidence, then the entire charge of driving at 0.08% or more may get dismissed. Even if not dismissed, a jury may choose to give the test result little if any weight in assessing the case against you. In other words, if the police did not follow the proper procedure, how then can we accept the test s reliability? Also, don t forget you will also most likely have a license suspension matter before the DMV. This is not a criminal offense. It is a civil proceeding before an administrative agency, the California DMV. The matter before the DMV will be brought under the Administrative per se suspension law. This is almost identical to The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 15

16 the per se criminal charge, (b) driving with a blood alcohol level of.08% or higher, which you will also be facing in the criminal case. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 16

17 CHAPTER 2 MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION O.K. you have been arrested. Now it is time to get it together and figure out the best thing to do. The first thing you should definitely do is set up a consultation with a DUI defense attorney. If you woke up with severe chest pains you would see a doctor! Well this is much the same see a lawyer. But by all means, see a DUI defense lawyer! If you had chest pains would you see a podiatrist? The big surprise is that if you went to see a doctor to determine what might be wrong with you, you would pay. To see the best DUI defense lawyers in the country will not cost you a dime. All you are spending is your time. Don t be a fool, talk to a lawyer. When you do arrange for a consultation, be sure that you are going to interview with the actual lawyer who you are considering for representation. As I said, you usually can speak with some of the top DUI defense lawyers in the country without having to pay a consultation fee. So, why not start at the top. Go see the best. My advice, of course, is to speak with a DUI defense lawyer and not a general criminal lawyer. When I first started practice as a criminal defense lawyer in 1975, DUI cases were handled by general practitioners because, for the most part, the cases could easily be negotiated. With the advent of no plea bargaining positions, new statutory crimes and advancements in chemical testing, avenues of defense were blocked. Now this area of criminal defense (DUI defense) has become so complicated that it is now recognized as a specialty by the American Bar Association. Today DUI defense is one of the most difficult areas of criminal law. Public sentiment has moved the courts and the legislature to impose much stricter laws and penalties for DUI. Trial has become much more difficult due to the public initial emotional mind set against those accused of a DUI, an offense the average juror today often perceives as Drinking and Driving, not Drunk Driving. Any lawyer who undertakes the defense of a DUI case today does not have an easy task. We all hope that our courts apply the law even-handedly to all citizens The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 17

18 accused of a crime in all types of criminal cases. But, in a DUI case, there are many exceptions that do not exist in any other type of criminal case. Usually, the arrested person gets to call a lawyer after an arrest not in a DUI case. Usually, an arrested person gets to speak with a lawyer if they want not in a DUI case. Usually, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt each and every element of a crime before the person can be convicted not in a DUI case. There are many judicial and legislative exceptions that apply to virtually all phases of substantive and procedural law in DUI cases which does not make the defender s job easy. The defense of a drinking driver is one of the most difficult tasks in criminal law. The general public perception, stiffer penalties, relaxed constitutional safeguards and an attitude adjustment in both the legislature and the courts has caused the DUI trial to evolve into an area suited only to those well-versed and well-trained in the complexities of alcohol related criminal litigation. These complexities involve an array of physiological, biological, pharmacological and legal issues which the average criminal defense lawyer may be ill-suited to handle. The task of DUI defense today requires a lawyer not only with extensive legal skills, but also with a solid understanding and knowledge of the scientific and technical aspects which will be encountered in the DUI case. Any lawyer today who views the DUI case as a routine traffic offense is either ill-prepared, naïve, or both. No longer is their client merely facing a fine or a short license suspension if the case is not handled properly. Today, a convicted drunk driver faces mandatory incarceration, a substantial fine, a lengthy license suspension, community service, a criminal record and a whole litany of collateral consequences that impact employment and travel. When you think about selecting a DUI defense lawyer, be careful. There are some law firms that claim to provide representation all over the state. Do you really think one lawyer is going to be all over the State of California handling DUI cases? In these situations, it is likely that you will be assigned to another lawyer who has an office in the area where your case is located. The referring lawyer will then probably take some kind of a referral fee to turn your case over. There are a few firms that spend a great deal of money on advertising and have a standing relationship with local lawyers who, in turn, are assigned your case. You can easily spot these lawyers and firms in that they each advertise separately and jointly. In other words, lawyer X is listed as a member of law firm Y, but you see lawyer X s advertisements for his own office standing separate and apart from law firm Y. You The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 18

19 are probably paying more for the referral from law firm Y to lawyer X, than if you hired lawyer X directly. When you have your interview, the interviewing lawyer should be able to give you a case evaluation and intelligently explain how she would go about defending your case. Any lawyer who spends time telling you how good they are is not telling you how they would go about trying to win your case. Get information on what he perceives to be the issues in your case and what chances you have in either winning the case or getting a favorable settlement away from a DUI conviction. Also, if you are interviewing a prominent DUI defense lawyer, ask what his actual legal involvement in your defense case will be? Is she just overseeing the case? Is she available to you for ongoing case consultations during the litigation? And, the big question, will she actually go to court on your case and be personally available for trial? What is the benefit of a big name if that individual is not there at your side? What is the benefit of an excellently-skilled lawyer if he is going to have an associate try your case? You should also be sure to ask about the firm s procedure on how you will be kept informed about the status of the case. Will you be receiving letters and copies of all motions filed in your defense, copies of all police reports and DMV reports? You want to be sure that you will be kept well-informed on the progress and developments in your case at all times. These are difficult cases and, as the case proceeds, decisions will have to be made. You cannot make an informed decision if you are not properly informed. Also, once retained, most DUI defense lawyers will automatically contact the DMV within the ten (10) day time limit and will represent you at the DMV hearing. Most times, you will not have to attend this hearing; however, each case is different and the lawyer will advise you if your appearance will be necessary well in advance of the scheduled hearing. This time limit for a requested DMV hearing is limited to ten (10) days. If you do not make your request within the ten (10) day period you are not entitled to a hearing. It is best to have the lawyer who is going to represent you make the request for the hearing; but, if you do not get a lawyer within the ten day time limit then, by all means, you must call the DMV yourself and request the hearing. More information on the DMV will be found in Chapter 3. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 19

20 THIS IS IMPORTANT. You simply must set aside some time to undertake this task. The lawyer you hire will have a large part to play in determining the outcome of your case. The outcome of your case can and will impact you for many years to come. IT IS IMPORTANT! Traditionally, you might ask friends, relatives, business associates and or other lawyers you might know for the name of a good DUI defense lawyer. This, however, also reveals to others that you have been arrested and many people do not want this known. This is certainly not unusual, but it is more important to get good representation than to worry about your embarrassment. However, you do have a great research tool available to you the Internet! Remember, anyone can put up an Internet web site. It can say almost anything and the lawyer certainly wants you to think that they are great. Look to the lawyer s reputation and standing in the DUI defense bar. That is what should be on the web site, not a lot of self promotion and TV appearances. There is absolutely no substitute for experience and reputation. A lawyer s knowledge and reputation is really all that they have to sell. Naturally, those lawyers with the best track record, experience and reputation will end up costing the most, but not always. Think about the value you are getting versus the costs. Legal Fees And Costs Again, no surprise, you will usually get what you pay for just like any other service. The biggest names in the business will charge the most. But be careful; be sure those lawyers will actually be the lawyers working on your case. Unfortunately, there are a few-well known lawyers that attract clients but then have other associates do the actual legal work. Be sure you speak with the lawyer you want and make sure that lawyer will be available to you for trial. There are some well-known lawyers who never even interview a prospective client. They have a law clerk, an investigator, or a paralegal do it. That s like a nurse interviewing you for open heart surgery. Why would you settle for that? The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 20

21 A Word of Caution on Low-Fee Lawyers There are lawyers who can quote you a low fee, a very low fee in some cases. But you should know what you are getting for the fee. Are you going to get the quality and time commitments that are needed to be taken in your defense? They may be doing that because they have no intention of spending the proper amount of time defending your case in court. Such an attorney may have a strong financial incentive to avoid a number of court appearances and/or conduct the proper case preparation. These types of attorneys rarely, if ever, go to trial. Favorable pretrial settlements come about through a strong advocate. A strong advocate is one that knows how to successfully try a DUI case. To successfully try a DUI case, you must have tried a great many. This is the great strength, the professional standing and reputation of good lawyers. Again, be careful. A large fee does not necessarily guarantee a good lawyer. There are some bad apples out there just waiting for you. Always check the lawyer s standing in Martindale-Hubble. It is the oldest directory of lawyer s standing and reputations in the legal community. It is voted upon by other lawyers. So you have, in essence, lawyers ranking other lawyers. Some cities also have magazines, such as San Francisco Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, etc. which from time to time, publish a Super Lawyers section. Here, again, this is a survey of lawyers judging or recommending other lawyers that they would choose for a particular legal problem. Search the listing of legal organizations such as the National College for DUI Defense This is an excellent resource for DUI lawyers. But you should be careful of commercial sites that simply list lawyers. These lawyers usually pay a fee to be listed and it really does not provide any guide to their abilities except that this is an area of law in which they want to get cases. The commercial lists are the equivalent to a yellow page ad in the phone book; it gives you a starting point. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 21

22 Chapter 3 THE DMV AND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO YOUR LICENSE If the police officer took your driver s license at the time of arrest and you received a pink Temporary License/Notice of Suspension, then you only have ten (10) days to contact the DMV and request a hearing; otherwise, your driving privilege will be lost at the end of thirty (30) days. If you are an out-of-state driver, and the arresting officer let you keep your license but gave you a pink Temporary License/Notice of Suspension, then you only have ten (10) days to contact the DMV and request a hearing; otherwise, your driving privilege in the State of California will be lost at the end of thirty (30) days. One of the most important issues to address in your case will be your attempt to keep and maintain your driving privilege. To most individuals, this is looked upon as an absolute necessity and often may very well directly relate to their ability to make a living. It is always a good idea to contact a DUI defense attorney prior to contacting the DMV so that you can be advised on the type of hearing to request as well as the timing of such a hearing request. You may also be advised that it may be better for the attorney to contact DMV for you. You have 10 days to contact the DMV, which is plenty of time to get in touch with a lawyer. Some lawyers may tell you that they will contact DMV for you, even though you have not retained them. This is not always in your best interest. You may end up retaining another lawyer to represent you and then the DMV hearing will have to be changed. You may be giving up or using a continuance request for no reason. If, for some reason, you do not hire a lawyer before your 10 days is up then you must contact DMV yourself and request a hearing. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 22

23 As you have already been informed, you only have 10 days from the date of arrest to request a hearing before the DMV. If you do make that request then a stay of the driving license suspension will be issued. You will maintain full and complete driving privileges while the stay is in effect; and, the stay of suspension will continue until DMV s ruling following the hearing. If you do not request a hearing, your driving privileges will be suspended as follows: 1) First time offender 4 months; 2) First time offender who refused a chemical test 1 year; 3) Second time or subsequent offender 1 year; 4) Second time offender who refused a chemical test 2 years; 5) Third time offender 3 years. For the per se suspension periods, a previous DMV administrative per se suspension will be counted against you, even if you didn t end up with a DUI conviction in the previous case. If you have not retained counsel, then you must contact the DMV for a hearing; otherwise, as stated above, you will lose your driving privilege. If you have to contact the DMV yourself, the following information may be of help: TIONS FOR REQUESTING THE DMV You must make a request for a hearing within ten days of the date you were given the Notice of Suspension. Most often, the Notice of Suspension will be given to you at the exact same time you were arrested. The ten days are calculated by counting the first day as the first day after your arrest. As an example, if you were arrested on the 15 th of the month, start counting on the 16 th of the month as the first day, and the tenth day would then be the 25 th of the month. The information set out below supplies the Department of Motor Vehicles with the information legally necessary to obtain a hearing. You do not have to supply any other information at the time you make the request in order to receive a hearing date or the stay of your license suspension. The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 23

24 You must provide the DMV, at the time you make your request for hearing, with the following information: * Your name and driver s license number. * The date of arrest or notice of suspension, which you will find on the Notice of Suspension itself. It will also contain information regarding the county where you were arrested. * Request either an in person or a telephonic hearing. The telephone numbers for the DMV per se hearings are listed below. City of Commerce (323) El Segundo (310) Fresno (559) Irvine (949) Oakland (510) Oxnard (805) Sacramento (916) San Bernardino (909) San Diego (619) San Francisco (415) San Jose (408) The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 24

25 CHAPTER 4 YOUR CASE IN COURT The citation you signed when you were released from jail, or your bail bond notice, requires that you appear in court for your arraignment. At the arraignment, the judge advises you of the charges that have been filed against you by the prosecution and informs you of your rights. Your Rights In a DUI Case Your rights in a DUI case are much the same as they would be in any criminal case in the State of California. RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY You have the right to be represented by an attorney at all stages of the criminal proceedings. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one for you; usually this will be a public defender. However, a public defender will not represent you before the DMV, only court proceedings. A private attorney will almost always include the DMV representation as part of the criminal case representation. RIGHT TO A TRIAL You have the right to a trial on the charge against you. This also includes the right to trial on any alleged prior conviction or other enhancements that may be charged against you as well. The right to a trial is the right to a trial by a jury of twelve people from your community, all of whom must agree to a verdict before you may be found guilty. (Note: If you have been arrested on Federal land and charged with a federal DUI offense, you do not have the right to a jury on a first offense.) RIGHT TO OBTAIN EVIDENCE You have the right to subpoena into Court evidence and witnesses on your behalf. You also have the right to testify on your own behalf if you want to do so. RIGHT TO CONFRONTATION The abcs of DUI Defense a guide for those arrested by James Farragher Campbell, ESQ. 25

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